Hacker suspect charged by MET

The Metropolitan Police has charged a hacker it arrested earlier this week with five offences under the Criminal Law Act and Computer Misuse Act.

As previously reported by MCV, the 19 year-old Essex teenager in question is indeed Ryan Cleary.

He is accused of constructing and distributing bots designed to launch DDOS attacks which he then used on the websites of the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and the British Phonographic Industry.

There have not been charges made in relation to any attacks on video games related companies, services or websites.

However, despite what is being reported on some sites, this does not mean that Cleary is clear of all troubles related to Anonymous, LulzSec or any number of the hacks that impacted the games sector.

Earlier in the week the MET told Develop that it will be investigating Cleary’s computer for any evidence of intrusions into Sony’s networks.

And while LulzSec itself denies any link to Cleary, it’s entirely possible that further charges could yet be made against him.

Cleary is known to be a former member of Anonymous who left the group after disagreements about its strategy and direction. In an interview with thinq_ shortly after he confirmed that he was setting up a "splinter group". Within days LulzSec was born.

"The media is part of the problem. It’s why AnonOps still exists," he said at the time.

Cleary is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court this morning.